I REALLY want to become a vegetarian but oo.. ee.. ahh.. hmm

[edd]

Don't call me a murderer (I really don't intend to be) but.. I just really, really, reallly, like eating meat. No its not meat, its animal flesh. Now i just said that I feel slightly sick. Jeez. My brain has just been chopped in half. Im stuck in the middle.

On the one hand, I care immensely about the world, equality, environment, peace and I'm very much anti-capitalist, so it would make perfect sense to become a vegetarian.

I have just learnt that the food and recourses fed into the cattle industry ALONE in one year would be enough to feed 8.7 BILLION people, thats about 2 billion souls more than we have now upon this planet. Sorry you may already know this, but thats just STAGGERING. I can't believe that our children are NOT educated about this, I mean if we were all vegetarian, something like utopia might dawn. Added to this are a thousand just a strong cases to become a vegetarian..

But on the other hand.. (this is my selfish gene speaking)......

.....I don't know actually. All the stupid arguments such as.. "oh i've been bought up to eat meat in my family" or "it just tastes so so so good" or "in the bible.." ...

...Its just all a bit pathetic... Even if it does taste "so so good" your still pretty much selfish and you know it. It doesn't make it alright at all. And we all know the bible says a lot of stupid things, like encouraging the stoning of drunken teenagers till the death (thats actually true!!)

Maybe I'l just become semi vegetation, free range chicken once a month.. But still hmm.. this post has been just a long rant, so its probably a good idea to ask a question or two, to make it legal.

1. How hard is it for someone who is a seasoned meat eater of all types to become a vegetarian? Do you recommend a total stop to meat eating or to be slowly weened off it?

2. Do the meat "alternatives" actually taste anything like meat? And if so, is it from artificial additives? I hope not.

3. Do you start seeing your meat eating friends as savages? I hope not.

[animallover7249]

1. How hard is it for someone who is a seasoned meat eater of all types to become a vegetarian? Do you recommend a total stop to meat eating or to be slowly weened off it?
It's different for everyone, but it's very possible. I was raised a meat eater by a hunting family. I stopped 'cold turkey', never looked back and never slipped up. :)



2. Do the meat "alternatives" actually taste anything like meat? And if so, is it from artificial additives? I hope not.
Meat alternatives help a lot of people at the beginning. I guess you'll have to test them for yourself to see which ones are your favorite. A lot taste better than others, but everyone has different tastes. Personally, my favorite brand is morning star farms. I dont really like much that Boca makes at all.



3. Do you start seeing your meat eating friends as savages? I hope not.
Again, everything is different for everyone and noone can answer these questions for you. You just have to see. To me, I see meat as murder and wrong. But I know that not everyone agrees with me, everyone deals with that in their own way.

[hoodedclawjen]

these questions are going to have answers that are unique to you. you'll have to feel your way through to finding the answers, but here goes:

1) if you cook even a little bit, are enthusiastic about trying new things, are keen to learn, and look at it in a positive way, it'll be easier than if you tell yourself you're being deprived and try and live on chips and salad. it can be a fun food adventure if you choose to make it one.

if you're the kind of person who does better to jump in feet first, get yourself a load of new stuff, some info on nutriton, some recipes or food, and go for it. if you do better taking your time, you could do a few days a week first, or cut out red meat first, then chicken, then fish, and work your way down. its your choice.

2. yes and no. they're all different, like peoples perceptions. different people think some products are nicer, or exactly the same as, or different but still great, compared to meat. some find if they use the same sauces, recipes, or pick things with similar textures and seasonings, they can't tell, or its just the same. some do better to not try and replace meat with analogues, but to find new things to eat. there are some items i find scarily close (which others might love the idea of). some products are completely different to meat but still excellent.

3. i don't personally freak out and cry and try and wrestle it off him and give it a proper burial when my bf eats a burger. i don't see meat as food anymore either though. i feel a bit sad if i watch someone eat meat, but i don't go out to just do that, and hate them, i just feel that their choice sucks a lot.

[ashlend]

I'm glad you're thinking of going veg. :sunny:


1. How hard is it for someone who is a seasoned meat eater of all types to become a vegetarian? Do you recommend a total stop to meat eating or to be slowly weened off it?

I didn't find it hard at all. And I used to love my steak and bacon (and my sushi.) I stopped cold turkey and never looked back. To me, meat is simply not a food option anymore.


2. Do the meat "alternatives" actually taste anything like meat? And if so, is it from artificial additives? I hope not.

Not really, but they taste good in their own right (well, some of them do.) Try a few and see!


3. Do you start seeing your meat eating friends as savages? I hope not.

I'll be honest (ONLY on VB will I admit this.) Yes, it bothers me to watch others eat meat. However, I also believe that people need to live and let live, and I know that my trying to force veg*nism down their throats won't accomplish anything. So I keep quiet and try to keep my eyes on my own plate and think about the fact that I, at least, am not eating an animal.

-Ash

[edd]

cheers for all the advice!

and sorry i should of pointed out that the last question about the seeing your friends as savages was, kind of a joke! i should of pointed that out. I have a few vegetarian friends, and hmm i well i hope they don't see me a savage..

[michelejo]

A lot of my veg. friends will not eat meat subs because they remind them too much of meat and thus gross them out. Some meat subs are better than others. Some taste nothing like meat but are still yummy. Some aren't that great.

I've been craving a bologna sandwich and Yves meatless bologna was *totally* satisfying. 1-2 slices works best - if you use a ton the taste gets somewhat overpowering. Baked, flavored tofu is very satisfying to me too.

It is hard to not feel somewhat judgmental toward those who eat meat or refuse to educate themselves. But I'm still very tolerant of others - I don't want to force my beliefs on them.

[codemonkey]

I was never a big meat eater so giving it up was super easy for me. I used to love fish though so it was a little harder. But seriously, after a few weeks, I didn't want it anymore.

I like fake meat products but I never was a big fan of the real thing so I'm probably not a good judge. I started eating them long before I gave up meat completely just because I liked them better. Don't expect them to taste just like the real thing because you'll be disappointed. Just look at them as something new and different.

I don't look at my meat-eating friends and family as savages. It just disappoints me a little when they don't listen to me.

[Abyssinian]

1. How hard is it for someone who is a seasoned meat eater of all types to become a vegetarian? Do you recommend a total stop to meat eating or to be slowly weened off it?
I was a big time meat eater. I loved it! I ate it at least twice a day.
I've heard a lot of different things about this one though. A lot of people think it's easier to cut out one thing at a time, leaving fish and shelfish til last.
I just couldn't keep bull***ing myself really. I knew what I put in my mouth was once an animal, a living creature. I couln't justify it anymore.

2. Do the meat "alternatives" actually taste anything like meat? And if so, is it from artificial additives? I hope not.
I don't think it tastes like meat. If it did I know I wouldn't eat it. I like the sausages though. They have a nice smokey flavour, and I miss that.
I don't think there are animal additives in soy meats. I have never heard of it anyways. It's always good to check the ingredients though.

3. Do you start seeing your meat eating friends as savages? I hope not.
I don't really see them as savages. I do wish they would open their eyes and see what they're doing. I try to keep the preaching at a minimum when I'm with them. I love them no matter what they eat.

[beatricious]

I think you'll be surprised at how easy it is to give up meat, as long as you take the time to explore all the delicious plant food that will be available to you. I was a huge meat-lover, I mean huge. And sure, I had some cravings at first, but it only took me a month or so to get over them completely. I've been a vegetarian for over six years and a vegan for nearly two, and I've got the tattoo to prove I'm never going back! Good luck and have fun. Try vegweb.com for some great recipes.

[paisleyjane]

Well, first of all - you are at least taking a step in the right direction by educating yourself and considering the switch to vegetarianism. The more you know, the better!



1. How hard is it for someone who is a seasoned meat eater of all types to become a vegetarian? Do you recommend a total stop to meat eating or to be slowly weaned off it?

I was a "seasoned meat eater" like you. I had eaten meat all my life and never though twice about it. Then, like you, I started learning about the environmental, ethical, and health horrors behind the meat industry. One day, about a week into my research, I ordered a chicken sandwich. I bit into the chicken, and that is when it happened... my brain CLICKED ON like a light switch. It became very apparent to me that I had animal flesh in my mouth and it was REPULSIVE! I spat the sandwich out, threw it in the garbage, and have never gone back. I just celebrated my 1 year veggie-versary this month :)

It wasn't even hard, it simply no longer appealed to me.

2. Do the meat "alternatives" actually taste anything like meat? And if so, is it from artificial additives? I hope not.

I am yet to eat a meat alternative that actually tastes like meat. There are a few that LOOK strikingly like meat, to the point that I have to double check the packaging or ask the waitress to confirm with the kitchen that it's vegetarian. I can also think of a few soy-chicken products that are very chicken textured.

Most vegetarians may eat meat-alternatives for the first few months while they are adjusting to their new lifestyle. They become boring pretty fast and you will start to experiement with cooking beans, lentils, tofu, etc instead of having mock-meat for dinner AGAIN (sigh)

3. Do you start seeing your meat eating friends as savages? I hope not.

I do not see my meat eating friends as savages. I often wonder if everyone was as educated on the subject as myself (and soon, yourself) if that would make any difference. Also, for the first few months it will become VERY APPARENT how prominent meat is in society. You will notice tv ads, radio ads, billboards. You may notice yourself in a cafeteria feeling like you're in an episode of the Twighlight Zone where everyone is happily chomping on corpses. Those things will subside with time and your vegetarian lifestyle will become just that - a lifestyle :)


GOOD LUCK!!

[Fromper]

I keep saying I was surprised by how easy it is to be a vegetarian, and I used to really like meat, and I ate it at every meal. I'd recommend getting a good book on vegetarianism, such as "Becoming Vegetarian" by Melina and Davis, and just dive in. Start trying all the new foods you've never had before, and you really won't miss the meat.

As for fake meat products, I'll just say avoid the ones that try and taste like real meat. Not only do they fail miserably, but they're downright gross tasting in their own right. Fake hamburgers don't taste anything like real hamburgers, by any measure. However, some of the other burger types that don't try to imitate real meat are quite good. I like the Morningstar Farms veggie burgers (forget exactly what they call them) and the new mushroom and mozerella burgers from Boca brand.

Tofu's also a great cooking ingredient to use as a substitute for meat in most recipes. For instance, my dad took a Chinese cooking class once, and he gave me a couple of the easier recipes, and I found that I can use tofu instead of the meat in any of them. The sauces make the taste, and tofu tastes like whatever sauce it's cooked in, so it always works, as long as the sauce is vegetarian (some of the sauces are fish based, like oyster sauce).

--Fromper
:juggle:

[Kristen4382]

1. I was brought up in a meat-eating house. Lots of baked dinners, sausages on the bbq etc, Happy Meals at McDonalds [oh what an ironic name!]. I really loved chicken and bacon. I gave up meat between around 15-17yrs old gradually. First the red meat, then the bacon [weakness] then less chicken. At first I found it a little difficult because 'it tastes good'. Then my ethics got in the way and when I was eating chicken I'd realise I was eating A chicken. If you love it so much, I wouldn't recommend stopping it all at once because you'd probably feel like you were punishing yourself. Just learn about the alternatives, hang around here and keep asking questions and I reckon we can have you converted in no time :p

2. I rarely eat meat alternatives because they remind me too much of the real thing. I've been veg going on a decade so honestly, I don't really remember exactly what it is like, but the taste and texture of this stuff reminds me of it a great deal.

3. I just get REALLY annoyed when friends claim to be animal lovers, against animal cruelty etc, and continue to eat meat. I don't act on it, I just think to myself 'yooouuu effing idiot'. But that's just me sort of using my choices and beliefs on other people...and the world doesn't work like that. Eating meat is just one choice a person makes.

Good luck! :)

[Moophius]

I think it's completely normal and natural to enjoy meat, to feel anxious at the thought of giving it up, and to crave it when you go without. Of course, not everyone will feel that way, but that doesn't mean those feelings are wrong. For reasons partly genetic and partly cultural, giving up meat can be very difficult for some people. You shouldn't feel ashamed to be one of them. Personally, I have more respect for people who do the right thing when it's hard, than for people who do the right thing when it's what they would have preferred to do anyway.

Some fake meats are very convincing; Yves brand vegan pepperoni tastes just like the real thing to me. Processed meats in general are pretty easy to fudge, because most of the flavor is fat, salt, and smoke. There's also an all-vegan Pan-Asian restaurant here in Boston, called Buddha's Delight, that serves a lot of mock-meat dishes; their shrimp and beef are almost dead-on, though their chicken and pork leave something to be desired. In general, though, it's best to look at tofu, tempeh, and seitan not as meat substitutes, but as foods in their own right, which may require a lot of seasoning.

Since giving up animal products, I've tried so many new things that I've felt my meal options actually expanding. I'm learning how to cook, and I'm discovering all sorts of exotic fruits, vegetables, grains, fungi, spices, and food products that I'd never even heard of before, things like currant tomatoes, polenta, quinoa, dried chanterelles, and cashew butter. My meals are so varied and colorful that I enjoy eating more than I used to, while meat has lost its appeal. I've also found that a lot of the things I've always enjoyed are or can easily be made vegan, so it hasn't been nearly as much of a sacrifice as I'd anticipated.

Anyway, good luck in getting to a place where you're comfortable with your dietary choices. I've been wrestling with these issues for the better part of a decade, and I'm only now starting to make some peace with my food. It's not easy to be aware and have a conscience in a world where unethical meal options so vastly outnumber the ethical ones.

[Dieselsmom]

Several people have said that they do not see their meat eating friends, etc., as savages. That is one side of the coin. The other side is that depending on how important this issue becomes to you, you may see people that way, especially when they come to understand that you have given up eating meat because you think it is cruel and brutal. And if they do venture to ask you for any kind of detail, and you tell them what you know, and then they continue eating meat, you may well begin to feel like you are a separate species from them. At least that is the way that both my friend and I feel. If I was not already married, there is no way that I could meet and get close to someone who eats meat!

[theatrelife101]

I come form a hunting family and was almost a carnivore before switching to vegetarianism. My family is very unhealthy and basically lives off meat.
Yes, I know what you mean about meat "tasting so good" BUT, after becoming vegetarian, I have discovered sooooo many things that taste so much BETTER than meat!!!! I'm tasting seasonings and spices and tons of different stuff I've never had, and My taste buds are going CRAZY.
The only time I miss meat is when I'm REALLY hungry and would probably eat about anything, but I haven't given in.

[Jennifer89]

My Friends When I first went veg, I was all "preachy" about others who ate meat. I think everyone is, at first. You learn not to be. Just remember that you once at meat, too; and you'll be okay.

The alternatives I think they are good. You should buy a couple different ones and try them out. I know there's a thread *somewhere* on here with a list of favorite meat substitutes. Try some of the subs off of the list and see what you think. Some companies are more "artificial" then others, so you really just have to check it out and see what you think.

The transition It's really up to you. I know that "limiting" myself has never worked. I'm a very OCD person, so it's either everything or nothing for me. I went strate to vegetarian, and then strate to vegan, there was no "imbetween" stage. However, if you can limit yourself and slowly "ween" off of meat, then go for it! Anything that'll get you to the place you want to be, you should do.

I can tell that you really want to go veg, otherwise you wouldn't have posted. So, give it a shot. It can only get better as time goes on. I'm a big meat-lover myself, but I've been vegan now for 4 1/2 years, and I almost never crave meat, anymore.

Good luck! Feel free to send me a private message if you need any help or support!

[Kristen4382]

edd, I think you should consider trying a couple of different vego meat substitutes. You seem to love the meat, but not the responsibility of causing the death of animals. [makes you OK in my books-at least you're not ignorant :p] We can't really say if you'll enjoy something, maybe we could give decent advice, but some of us hate the stuff and others love it, so ultimately it's up to you :) Let us know how you go and we'll be here for support and further suggestions.

[janelle]

1. I was a HUGE meat eater... ate meat at least twice a day. I've now been meat free for over 4 months, and I do not miss it at all.

2. Some of the mock meats are good... some are not. Some look/taste too much like the real things. Others are not alike at all.

3. No, I don't see meat eating people as savages. Sometimes I get the urge to tell them about what they're actually eating, but I refrain unless they make a snide comment about what I'm eating!

Good luck!!! :D

[megbot]

I think few a person actually loves the taste of meat, given that in most its applications it's covered in some sort of vegetation (ketchup, onions, garlic, mustard, tomato, lettuce, etc).

I think if you look at it that way and break down what you actually like of your meaty meals, you'll find its not actually the meat, rather the little extras :)

[Fromper]

I think few a person actually loves the taste of meat, given that in most its applications it's covered in some sort of vegetation (ketchup, onions, garlic, mustard, tomato, lettuce, etc).

I think if you look at it that way and break down what you actually like of your meaty meals, you'll find its not actually the meat, rather the little extras :)

Nope. Not to a true meat lover. I used to eat plain steaks and hamburgers, because I didn't want to cover up the taste with ketchup or anything. Not so much with other meat, but beef was good plain.

But since going veg, I've tried a whole lot of new foods that I'd never had before, so I don't miss it at all.

--Fromper
:juggle:

[MrsKey]

Nope. Not to a true meat lover. I used to eat plain steaks and hamburgers, because I didn't want to cover up the taste with ketchup or anything. Not so much with other meat, but beef was good plain.

I agree with Fromper here. I have to admit that especially in the case of beef - I ate it minimally cooked and plain - without even adding salt because I like the taste of beef and didn't want to cover it up. I know several others who have felt that way.

Believe it or not some people really just like the taste of meat - even without the 'trimmings' and extras.

[Alicia Avocado]

Don't call me a murderer (I really don't intend to be) but.. I just really, really, reallly, like eating meat. No its not meat, its animal flesh. Now i just said that.

I used to love eating meat aswell, until I realized that it was making my healthy conditions worse, and animal products were making me over-weight. In addition, ponder the way the animals are treated, and look into the hormones and things that are added to meat. For me, it was taking meat off a chicken thigh that made me clue in, I couldn't eat it because I couldn't dis-associate it anymore. Meat = Flesh suddenly occured to me. Now I realize I love flavour and texture, and can make wonderful meals without it.

1. How hard is it for someone who is a seasoned meat eater of all types to become a vegetarian? Do you recommend a total stop to meat eating or to be slowly weened off it?

I stopped "cold turkey." However if you love meat, it may be a good idea to taper off. Perhaps for the first month try two vegetarian meals a week, then up it everymonth by a meal until you reach 7 days a week and have a meat-free kitchen. It will also give you time to learn vegetarian cooking and slowly accumulate the supplies so you won't be discouraged.

2. Do the meat "alternatives" actually taste anything like meat? And if so, is it from artificial additives? I hope not.

They often don't taste like meat, some are really good, others are not so tempting. However, when you learn to cook really well with tofu, tempeh, etc. you can create some rather delicious dishes that will make you not miss it at all. I often use the "fake meat" products when I don't have time to cook and prepare, or as a treat.

3. Do you start seeing your meat eating friends as savages? I hope not

I love my friends and family, what they eat sometimes does bother and/or disgust me, but I keep my opinion to myself. I know I am healthier for not consuming, and at least I am making a difference, however small. I actually like to make vegan meals for people, just so they can understand that I am not truly "deprived" as they think, and who knows, maybe they want to try it!

[Gita]

I liked meat too. I won't deny it. A lot of Vegetarians actually liked meat. I also liked cigarettes, but I quit. I would probably like crack if I started up, who knows? Meat alternatives don't taste exactly like meat. A lot of vegetarians don't like meat, and the thing is your tastes change in a few weeks if you can stick with it. Mine did anyway. It is a mental thing, in a way. You just say "no, I'm not buying it or eating it, " and before you know it, you've been a veg for six months. Give it a real try before worrying about losing a particular flavor. There are so many artificial ingredients in meat as well, inoculations, hormones, that last spurt of adrenalin and fear as the cow feels its life gushing through a cut artery-- so it is not just "fake meat" flavoring that is fake. It's not beef bullion, it must be some order of vegetarian tomato/spicy stock. Believe me, they got flavoring down to a science.

[megbot]

I agree with Fromper here. I have to admit that especially in the case of beef - I ate it minimally cooked and plain - without even adding salt because I like the taste of beef and didn't want to cover it up. I know several others who have felt that way.

Believe it or not some people really just like the taste of meat - even without the 'trimmings' and extras.

yikes, didn't know there were so many of you out there like that. I've heard of that in occasions, thought the majority always covered it up.

[Moophius]

Nope. Not to a true meat lover. I used to eat plain steaks and hamburgers, because I didn't want to cover up the taste with ketchup or anything. Not so much with other meat, but beef was good plain.

But since going veg, I've tried a whole lot of new foods that I'd never had before, so I don't miss it at all.

--Fromper
:juggle:

I was also a big fan of minimally cooked, processed, and seasoned beef, and that was what gave me the most pause when I contemplated becoming a vegetarian. I never felt that chicken had much of a taste at all, and I didn't especially care for most pork products, but, man, the thought of giving up steak just made me want to cry.

I think a big part of finding happiness in life is realizing that there are multiple valid perspectives on a situation, and consciously choosing among them rather than simply reacting. I choose to think of my diet in terms of possibilities rather than limits. The thought process doesn't come naturally; I'm a bit of a cynic and a pessimist by nature, so I've had to work at being positive. But the end result is that I get to feel good about living the way I want to live, rather than feeling bad about taking the easy way out, or feeling deprived because I can't indulge my "bad" cravings.